When you sustain any form of injury either minor or major, the first thing you might do is research everything you can about the injury. Through your research you'll find helpful information that will aid your recovery however, some information that you'll find may be false or fabricated, causing you to panic or worry about the injury. So, in this post we will look at:
- What exactly is an ACL injury
- Where to find to right information
- Common myths about the injury
What is an Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury?
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is a connective piece of tissue that runs through in the centre of both knee joints connecting both the femur and tibia bones together, helping to stabilize the knee. An injury to this ligament can come in many forms either be landing awkwardly, turning sharply or by taking a direct hit to the knee. Once an injury is sustained it can be categorized into 3 grades depending on the severity of the damage, the higher the grade the more damage is done.
Where to find the most reliable information
When researching about your ACL injury you may find yourself overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information that's out there. This high volume of information can provide you with a wide range of details however, it can also hinder your ability to gather the correct information that best suits your needs, as you won't always be able to tell what info is true or false.
- This Blog: I know I'm being biased here but the information you'll find on this blog is from someone who has experienced this injury and recovery journey.
- Physiotherapists/Surgeons: These physician treat injuries like this all the time, seeking these people out and asking them as many questions as possible will give you a great insight into what's to come down the road.
- Someone who Experienced It: Like myself, anyone who went through this journey will be able to tell you about all the ups & downs and provide you with any tips that can help you along the way.
- The Internet: Be careful with this one, some of the info found on the internet can be questionable at times, to avoid this look for recognized clinic websites and/or medical journals to give you the best information.
Common Myths about ACL Injuries
You can't Walk after an ACL Injury
- The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is responsible for stopping the shin bone moving forward and away from the thigh bone, an injury to this ligament will effect the stability of the knee while turning or changing direction.
- If someone has suffered an ACL injury they WILL be able to walk, even immediately after the injury has occurred. Walking at a slow pace is very manageable and good practice to not cause any further damage.
- Some people may have severe pain or swelling, not allowing them to bear any weight through the knee. But for most people this will not impact them with walking.
You must have Surgery to fix it
- When something is broken the next step would be to fix it, this is no different to when you get injured so you must fix it through rehabilitation, though the type of rehabilitation is depends on the severity of your ACL injury.
- If you suffer a grade 1 or 2 ACL injury then traditional rehab exercises can help to fix the problem. However if you unfortunately suffer a Grade 3 ACL Injury then Surgery may be the cure.
- Even if you do suffer a grade 3 injury some people still may decide not to have surgery, opting for a more traditional rehabilitation program, success rates though can vary through this method.
You can never play Sports again
- For athletes who suffer a serious ACL injury, the goal will always be to return to the sport they love the most either at a professional or amateur level.
- Athletes CAN return to sport after undergoing ACL surgery and the success rates are pretty high with some studies showing that 65% - 88% of athlete's returning to their sport one year after surgery.
- Athletes may have to alter their level of intensity or volume when it comes to training once they complete their recovery years after surgery to avoid re-injuring or damaging their knee again, but generally most athletes return to their sport and have long successful careers.
ACL Prevention programs prevent you from an ACL Injury
- Let's make this simple, NO INJURY IS PREVENTABLE. There are many scenarios that can occur during exercise or a sports game that can led to an injury, this is simply out of your control.
- An ACL or any other prevention program are simply constructed to help reduce the risk of injury and cannot 100% guarantee you safety from injuries.
- These programs however are very beneficial to athlete's, as reducing the risk of injury can prolong the sporting careers of many people and allow them to perform exercises at a reasonable level of safety.
Return to full contact Sport, 3 to 6 Months after Surgery
- After undergoing ACL reconstruction surgery you will be faced with a long, difficult journey of rehabilitation and recovery. You will complete each stage of recovery along the way and for most patients it usually takes 9-12 months before returning to full contact sport.
- Your return to sports will not be determined by the amount of time you spend standing on the side-line but in the effort of work you apply to your rehabilitation. Allowing yourself 9 to 12 months to be spent on rebuilding your knee will give you the best chance of a successful return, returning only after 6 months can put you in a position of re-injury to your ACL.
- However depending on your surgeon, your physiotherapist and/or the improvement your knee makes during this journey some patients may be able to return to non contact & light sporting activities anywhere after 6 months.
Now that you've finished reading what are your thoughts about the information,
- Did you find it helpful?
- What myths have you heard?
- Where are you getting your information from?
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